The Interview Series: Part 2 – Interview Day

In our previous blog post I went through How to Prepare for your job interview. In the second part of our three-part series we’re going to be looking at what you need to do in the actual interview itself. So where to start…

1. First Impressions

Arrive dressed in business attire. Aim for a neat, tidy, clean and uncluttered appearance. Demonstrate your personality and build rapport by being personable and engaging from the beginning. It seems obvious, but you’d be surprised….

2. Answering Questions

Provide direct and succinct answers, using examples wherever possible. If asked a competency based question, answer using SOAR – Situation, Objective, Actions, Results.

3. Asking Questions

Use this as an opportunity to ensure that you have all the information you need but also to demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm. (If you don’t ask questions, you run the risk of being perceived as uninterested!)

We advise you to prepare for this question – it is almost always asked during the interview process.

• Why is the job vacant?
• Who would I report to?
• What prospects are there for personal and professional development?
• What attributes would you hope that I bring to the job?
• When can I expect to hear from you?
• What do you like best about working at the company?
• What specific problems are you hoping to solve during the first three/six months?
• What are your goals for the department?
• Ask about next steps/timescales – again this demonstrates your interest.

• Enter the room confidently
• Shake hands firmly – and introduce yourself
• Be polite and friendly – look the interviewer straight in the eye as soon as you enter the room
• Look interested – ask questions as well as answering
• Answer questions as fully as you can – avoid yes and no answers
• Provide examples to prove your achievements
• Tell the truth
• Ask if you don’t understand a question
• Speak clearly
• Sell yourself – get your good points across / be positive
• Give a friendly smile (if in doubt don’t – it is better to look serious than insincere)

Don’t:

• Fidget and slouch in the chair
• Swear (even mildly)
• Criticise former employers
• Interrupt
• Draw attention to your weaknesses
• Go over the top – stay calm and stick to the fact

Post interview, call Panoramic Care and let us know your initial thoughts – enthusiasm can count for a lot, so if you’re keen, letting us know straight away can often make all the difference. We need to provide your detailed feedback in order to give you the best possible chance of progressing to the next stage.

Next week, in the last in our Interview Series where we’ll be delving into what you should be doing for a telephone interview.

Please get in touch if you want to find out more.